What impact does a long holiday (closing site) have?

[GraemeL]

Just thinking!

If we wanted to close the business for a month a go to Australia (or Maldives or Galapagos - think internet rarely available), we could put our site into maintenance mode so those who landed on it would see an appropriate message.

What impact would it have on Google or rankings or search results or anything else?

I am not really sure what question to ask. I suppose I want to understand any negative impact it would have - aside from no sales in that period of course.

Thank you!

Graeme

 

[Ste Hughes]

In terms of google you will be committing suicide.

Just turn all items to out of stockand keep the pages up

 

[ServWise]

Yeah don't touch the actual content, this is what determines your position in Google for the most part. Just disable the ability for orders to take place and put up some sort of notice on the home page that you will be resuming sales on a certain date with a link to a contact form for customers to enquire before hand.

 

[sirearl]

Can't you find someone to cover for you.

 

[Nuno]

Suspend sales facility. Put notice at top of front page saying "We are taking a valuable opportunity to personally checkout new products and sources on your behalf. We'll be back bigger and even better, soon".
Don't hide the site behind a maintenance wall.

 

[cazza]

Normally we take 1 weeks holiday a year, closing our B & M shop and leaving our website running but with a notice stating that no orders will be dispatched till our return, this has never impacted on our sales or customers. We have just returned from 2 weeks in Australia and this time we felt closing and not providing orders for this amount of time would negatively impact our business. We placed the usually notice but explained that we had temporary staff in to cover, but it may delay orders going out. Again it did not have any impact on our orders, but we were in constant contact with our daughter who volunteered to "do her best" in running our business whilst away.

I personally would not close an internet business for a month, i to would fear in losing valuable custom, competitors are only a click away and although many loyal customers are willing to wait, i doubt they would wait a month.

 

[GraemeL]

We usually take a couple of weeks off every year and as the business has been designed so that we can run it from anywhere in the world that has an internet facility and mobile phone signal our service remains consistent, customers don't notice a thing. Even when I am in China I can run it, though the time difference made it slightly awkward. However, I was in industrial China not out in the country.

So the summary seems to be that the website should remain up and we work out the best way to deal with customers who land on it.

Thanks everyone.

G

 

[GraemeL]

Can't you find someone to cover for you.

Why didnt I think of trying that?

 

[fisicx]

There loads of people providing virtual PA/offoce functions. Can't you find one of these to keep things ticking over while you are away getting back to nature?

 

[GraemeL]

There loads of people providing virtual PA/office functions.

Its possible - though phones are not the biggest issue. Linnworks working knowledge is the key requirement.

Alternatively we go to the Lake District.

 

[Nochexman]

Another thought; make sure you advise your payment method!

 

[RepricerExpress]

Personally, l would go with Nono's idea - suspend sales and notify customers. The Lake District is nice but : )

 

[Raw Rob]

Alternatively we go to the Lake District.

There are a lot more places with internet than that Especially if you buy a 3G dongle in each country you visit rather than relying on WIFI. I've done that in several countries in Europe, usually relatively cheap.